Will there an opportunity for Belden Namah to serve 7 million Papua New Guineans?
By David Ephraim
I have come to notice growing misconceptions and wrong assumptions against current Papua New Guinean Opposition Leader Hon. Belden Namah. The idea that he is a dictatorial type, a danger to democracy and rule of law and other things some people write about him is totally baseless and unconvincing based on his performance as politician.
Until events in 2011, Hon. Belden Namah was never given an opportunity to lead Papua New Guinea as Prime Minister. Although he was then Deputy Prime Minister under O’Neill/Namah government he never took the opportunity to pursue further up. Instead he remained contained with what he hoped to achieve, working within the domain of democracy to correct many flaws by so-called political stability - when decades of opportunities were lost to political weakness that allowed tribal systemic corruption to creep in to destroy the very opportunity to turn growth in social progress for 7 million people of Papua New
Guinea.
Certain events that happened in the history of Papua New Guinea since independence included his participation in Operation Rausim Kwik led by Major Water Enuma which led to a historic turn of events that saved PNG’s reputation and ruled out possible external military intervention
by mercenaries.
The events of 2011 and 2012 were very disturbing – but a struggle between Parliament and Judiciary system is not new. It’s very common among many third world democracies faced with massive issues of
systemic corruption seeing struggle between these pillars of State.
He may be highly criticised for directing the arrest of the Chief Justice, but I believe any person occupying public office should not be immune to allegations against him. In any democracy, members of
Parliament & the Judiciary must provide leadership in clearing allegations as it is required. Using their official powers to protect one’s authority over allegations is questionable.
As Belden Namah stated openly- what was done was necessary given the situation at the time. What is important now is to move on but with some understanding as to what must be done to correct wrongs of the
past.
Another major issue was the staging of the military ‘mutiny’ as many claimed. Col. Yaura Sasa disagreed. He said he was appointed Commander by court reinstated Prime Minister Sir. Michael Somare.
What could have been worse was contained again by quick thinking by Hon. Belden Namah in suspending airline flights to major military bases in the country where Col. Sasa had great influence since his
retirement.
If members of the Defence Force of other barracks around the country were flown in to support Col. Sasa it could have led to major confrontation between armed forces leading to loss of lives.
Hon. Namah’s political leadership stopped that boil over. What surprises me is that why anyone would fear and question the politicalleadership of Hon. Namah? Why would he be likened to a dictator or danger to democracy when all his political achievements in addressing major issues in PNG were within the domain of democracy?
He was a person who was prepared to take the risk. His reputation has being tarnished by false assumptions and social media frenzy mostly by Australian press but one thing for sure Hon. Namah provides a style of
political leadership that can address corruption and bring the best out of this country.
At this time of the year, any right thinking Papua New Guinean politician should put aside past mistakes and the experience during the 2011-2012 political impasse and form a strong form of leadership
with the PNG opposition to correct many flaws within our form of governance and also address growing issues surrounding our economy and social sector.
The future of 7 million people should not be allowed to suffer another decade of lost opportunity because people are scared to do the right thing.
With due respect to current Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill, I find him weakening our forms of governance by way of appointments of political allies and tribes men to the board of directors of state
utilities and other key positions in this country.
The danger is that an ethnic based form of political governance always leads to conflict among people who realize they are missing out from the benefits governance brings. Another political crisis is slowly rising. Will this be the opportunity that calls for Hon. Belden Namah to serve 7 million people
of this great country?
Until events in 2011, Hon. Belden Namah was never given an opportunity to lead Papua New Guinea as Prime Minister. Although he was then Deputy Prime Minister under O’Neill/Namah government he never took the opportunity to pursue further up. Instead he remained contained with what he hoped to achieve, working within the domain of democracy to correct many flaws by so-called political stability - when decades of opportunities were lost to political weakness that allowed tribal systemic corruption to creep in to destroy the very opportunity to turn growth in social progress for 7 million people of Papua New
Guinea.
Certain events that happened in the history of Papua New Guinea since independence included his participation in Operation Rausim Kwik led by Major Water Enuma which led to a historic turn of events that saved PNG’s reputation and ruled out possible external military intervention
by mercenaries.
The events of 2011 and 2012 were very disturbing – but a struggle between Parliament and Judiciary system is not new. It’s very common among many third world democracies faced with massive issues of
systemic corruption seeing struggle between these pillars of State.
He may be highly criticised for directing the arrest of the Chief Justice, but I believe any person occupying public office should not be immune to allegations against him. In any democracy, members of
Parliament & the Judiciary must provide leadership in clearing allegations as it is required. Using their official powers to protect one’s authority over allegations is questionable.
As Belden Namah stated openly- what was done was necessary given the situation at the time. What is important now is to move on but with some understanding as to what must be done to correct wrongs of the
past.
Another major issue was the staging of the military ‘mutiny’ as many claimed. Col. Yaura Sasa disagreed. He said he was appointed Commander by court reinstated Prime Minister Sir. Michael Somare.
What could have been worse was contained again by quick thinking by Hon. Belden Namah in suspending airline flights to major military bases in the country where Col. Sasa had great influence since his
retirement.
If members of the Defence Force of other barracks around the country were flown in to support Col. Sasa it could have led to major confrontation between armed forces leading to loss of lives.
Hon. Namah’s political leadership stopped that boil over. What surprises me is that why anyone would fear and question the politicalleadership of Hon. Namah? Why would he be likened to a dictator or danger to democracy when all his political achievements in addressing major issues in PNG were within the domain of democracy?
He was a person who was prepared to take the risk. His reputation has being tarnished by false assumptions and social media frenzy mostly by Australian press but one thing for sure Hon. Namah provides a style of
political leadership that can address corruption and bring the best out of this country.
At this time of the year, any right thinking Papua New Guinean politician should put aside past mistakes and the experience during the 2011-2012 political impasse and form a strong form of leadership
with the PNG opposition to correct many flaws within our form of governance and also address growing issues surrounding our economy and social sector.
The future of 7 million people should not be allowed to suffer another decade of lost opportunity because people are scared to do the right thing.
With due respect to current Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill, I find him weakening our forms of governance by way of appointments of political allies and tribes men to the board of directors of state
utilities and other key positions in this country.
The danger is that an ethnic based form of political governance always leads to conflict among people who realize they are missing out from the benefits governance brings. Another political crisis is slowly rising. Will this be the opportunity that calls for Hon. Belden Namah to serve 7 million people
of this great country?
